base spicy

Saffranal Substitutes & Alternatives

spicy woody phenolic medicinal herbal tobacco hay floral

safranal is the chemical responsible for the odour of saffron. Other characteristics: phenolic, medicinal, spicy-herbal, saffron, crocus flower, stamen, calyx, edible, woody, phenolic, medicinal, camphor, green-narcotic-floral, tobacco, hay, herbaceous, meat, pungent, green, floral, (saffranal, safrole)

Same material — different names

These share the same CAS number (116-26-7) — the same core molecule sold under different trade names. They're close to interchangeable, but purity and isomer ratio can cause subtle differences in strength and character, so treat them as near-identical rather than exactly the same.

Safranal CAS 116-26-7
Same molecule

15 substitutes for Saffranal

1.

White Thyme Essential Oil

41.2% match
heart aromatic
Why this substitute

Shares spicy, herbal, medicinal and phenolic

2.

Thymol (Crystals)

38.3% match
base aromatic Same position
Why this substitute

Shares phenolic, spicy, medicinal, herbal and camphoraceous

3.

Oregano Essential Oil

34.6% match
heart aromatic
Why this substitute

Shares spicy, herbal and medicinal

4.

Guaiacol (Natural)

33.3% match
base balsamic Same position
Why this substitute

Shares phenolic, spicy, medicinal and woody

5.

Thyme (Red) - Spain

31.8% match
heart green
Why this substitute

Shares herbal, phenolic, spicy, medicinal and woody

6.

P-PHENOL F-TEC

29.8% match
heart fantasy
Why this substitute

Shares phenolic and medicinal

7.

Red Thyme Oil

29.1% match
heart aromatic
Why this substitute

Shares spicy, phenolic, medicinal, herbal, woody and camphoraceous

8.

Chloroxylenol

26.5% match
heart phenolic
Why this substitute

Shares medicinal, phenolic and woody

9.

Saffron Oleoresin 5% MPG

26.1% match
heart gourmand
Why this substitute

Shares herbal, spicy, woody, medicinal, hay, tobacco and camphoraceous

10.

2-hydroxybenzaldehyde

24.3% match
top aldehydic Same position
Why this substitute

Shares medicinal and spicy

11.

Carvacrol FCC

23.0% match
base aromatic
Why this substitute

Shares spicy, herbal, phenolic and camphoraceous

12.

P-Phenol Fleuressence

21.9% match
heart fantasy
Why this substitute

Shares phenolic and medicinal

13.

Tea Tree (Australia)

21.7% match
heart green
Why this substitute

Shares medicinal, herbal, woody and camphoraceous

14.

Tuberose Artessence

21.6% match
heart floral
Why this substitute

Shares medicinal and spicy

15.

Cardamom Oil Guatemala

19.9% match
heart spicy
Why this substitute

Shares spicy, camphoraceous, medicinal and woody